A Warning To Tamils – Beware Tories Bearing Gifts

By TU Senan -January 10, 2014 

TU Senan

The campaign by Tamils living in the UK against holding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka was vigorous. There was huge opposition to the participation of David Cameron, the British prime minister. But unfortunately the campaign was not able to stop him from visiting Sri Lanka and shaking the bloody hand of the war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa.

However, Cameron came under enormous pressure from the international protest movement against Chogm in Sri Lanka. And hopes were raised that this was effective when they saw Cameron’s speech in Colombo.

Cameron was forced to declare that the Sri Lankan government should conduct “a credible, transparent, independent inquiry into alleged war crimes”. He also made a specific statement, saying: “Let me be very clear. If an investigation is not completed by March then I will use our position on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to work with the UN Human Rights Commissioner and call for a full, credible and international inquiry.”

Undoubtedly this message will have hit home with many Tamils, desperate for a sign of improvement in the situation. Number 10 was in full propaganda swing, getting this message out. The intention was to secure the electoral support of the 300,000-strong Tamil population in Britain.

But, in the cold light of day, we must examine what actually happened and what’s taking place now?

Firstly and as campaigners such as Tamil Solidarity predicted, the promise didn’t last long. As early as 18 November a press communique from Number 10 stated that: “If these investigations are not begun properly by March then I will use our position on the UN Human Rights Council to call for an international inquiry”.

Look carefully at how the words have changed. Now the position is not that the investigation should be ‘completed’ by March, instead it’s ‘begun properly’.  Credibility ditched, surely! Also note how ‘international independent inquiry’ has changed into ‘international inquiry’.          Read More